فَٱصْبِرْ عَلَىٰ مَا يَقُولُونَ وَسَبِّحْ بِحَمْدِ رَبِّكَ قَبْلَ طُلُوعِ ٱلشَّمْسِ وَقَبْلَ ٱلْغُرُوبِ 39
Translations
So be patient, [O Muḥammad], over what they say and exalt [Allāh] with praise of your Lord before the rising of the sun and before its setting,
Transliteration
Fa-sbir 'ala ma yaqulun wa sabbih bihamdi rabbika qabla tuluu' al-shams wa qabla al-ghurub
Tafsir (Explanation)
Allah commands the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) to exercise patience regarding the mockery and rejection of the disbelievers, and to glorify and praise his Lord both before sunrise and before sunset—referring to the Fajr and 'Asr prayers. Classical exegetes like Ibn Kathir and Al-Qurtubi emphasize that this ayah balances the command for patience with the prescription of worship, suggesting that steadfastness in faith and consistent remembrance of Allah are the antidotes to the harm of rejection and ridicule.
Revelation Context
This ayah appears in the latter portion of Surah Qaf, a Meccan chapter dealing with themes of the Hereafter, Allah's knowledge, and the Prophet's mission. It comes in the context of addressing the Prophet's perseverance against the Quraysh's denial and mockery, providing both solace and divine guidance during the challenging early Meccan period.
Related Hadiths
The Prophet (peace be upon him) said: 'The best of deeds is prayer performed at its proper time' (Tirmidhi). Additionally, the hadith: 'Guard the prayers, and especially the middle prayer, and stand before Allah in obedience' (Surah 2:238) reinforces the importance of maintaining the prescribed prayers mentioned in this ayah.
Themes
Key Lesson
This ayah teaches us that when facing criticism, mockery, or opposition, the remedy is not retaliation but increased devotion and remembrance of Allah through consistent prayer and glorification. By anchoring ourselves in regular worship, especially the obligatory prayers, we find spiritual strength and peace regardless of external circumstances.